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Saturday, May 11, 2013

Would the Canadiens have made it past the first round with
Peter Budaj as their starter?

I have to say, I haven't been looking forward to putting up today's news and links as it's the first time I am doing so since the Ottawa Senators sent the Habs packing last Thursday night.

The Montreal Canadiens enjoyed a surprisingly successful season finishing second in the Eastern conference after ending up in the basement at the end of the 2011-12 campaign. It's this amazing turnaround that had Montreal fans hoping and expecting the Canadiens to make a deep playoff run.

Instead the Habs lost defenseman Alexei Emelin in the final stretch of the season and things ent downhill from there. It's pretty typical for any fanbase to blame injuries on their team's early exit and so I am not trying to sing that song. The fact of the matter however is that with Emelin out, followed by captain Brian Gionta, Lars Eller, Brandon Prust and Ryan White the Habs were put to the test. A test which they ultimately failed.

As if those injuries weren't enough, goaltender Carey Price injured himself at the end of game four causing him to sit for game five as the Senators handed the Habs a 6-1 beating for the second time in the playoffs ultimately ending the Canadiens playoff run.

It wouldn't be Montreal without a debate over whether or not it was our goalie's fault. Its funny how so many people forget how good Price was to help the team win the Northeast division. Instead they remember his less than impressive overall performance in the final ten games of the season and first round of the playoffs.

I understand that in the big picture it's the playoffs that count, it just get's tiring to always have Price be bashed for the team's failure. The injuries did not help.